Do-it-yourself Attic Staircase With A Hatch (46 Photos): Drawings Of Folding Structures, Installation And Installation Of Stairs To The Attic

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

Having a private house with an attic, it often becomes necessary to install an additional structure, with the help of which it would be easy to climb up to work on the second floor of the house. Making an attic staircase will be the easiest and most successful way to do this. The use of the hatch will allow you to hide the structure when it is not needed, and making the staircase itself with your own hands will not doubt the quality and reliability of the structure.

Appointment

In a good private house, during the design process, an attic is most often laid. This is a non-residential premises, where all unnecessary things are often added, for which there is not enough space in the house. If you wish, you can make a full second floor out of it. In any case, no matter how this room is used, you need to be able to get into it. The simplest and most reliable option is a ladder.

Initially, private houses were built with external iron structures on the side ., by which it was possible in good weather to comfortably get to the attic. If initially the staircase was not made, then a simple attached wooden structure was used on the farm, which was installed only at the necessary time. The disadvantage of any of the above methods is seasonality - only in summer, in good weather and daylight hours, you can safely get into the attic and do all the necessary manipulations on it.

In view of these features, many owners of summer cottages and their own houses construct an attic staircase indoors. In order for it to take up little space and not interfere with the tenants, most often the structure has a folding character. The attic staircase can be either metal or wooden, you can buy or make it yourself. Each owner decides this moment for himself. So that a draft does not blow from the attic, dust does not fall and there is simply no hole in the ceiling, it is closed with a hatch.

If the attic is equipped for living quarters, then most often a stationary staircase is erected so that you can quickly go up and down. For a non-residential area, the most logical thing would be a folding structure, which is hidden behind a hatch under the ceiling and can be accessed at any moment. Having the option of going upstairs inside the house, there is no need to worry about weather conditions or the dark time of the day, if there is a need to take something from the attic or take something unnecessary away.

Types of structures

If you are puzzled by the purchase or manufacture of stairs to the attic, then first of all you need to understand what type of construction is right for you. Having determined the place where you will install the ladder, you can understand how large it can be, how much space it will take, what type it will be, and only after that you can take some more serious steps.

The main options for attic stairs are:

• folding;
• folding;
• retractable;
• spring;
• telescopic.

Folding stairs are most often made of metal, because this material allows you to create a small and easily folding structure. The main material for this is aluminum, due to its lightness and good strength indicators. The advantage of this type is the versatility of the device, which is suitable for almost any type of house construction with a wide variety of ceiling heights.

If this option is folded, then the design turns out to be small , and does not go beyond the box made for it. Of the minuses, only the complexity of folding and laying out the mechanism can be distinguished, because these actions require a certain physical strength. In addition, it is very difficult to make such a staircase at home. Here, each part must have a certain length and be fixed with the necessary hinge mechanisms, therefore it will be easier to purchase it in the store.

You can also make a folding ladder out of wood, but it will look completely different. You can do it yourself without much difficulty. It will consist of two parts. During folding, it will be attached to the longer part, and the entire ladder does not hide anywhere, but is attached or attached to the wall. In the case of a fastener, you need to make fasteners on the wall.

If there is a need to have a portable ladder, then a very simple but reliable mechanism can be made using bars and a cable. Two bars are selected based on the height of the ceiling, steps are being prepared - there should be no more than four of them, between the two wooden ones there will be one step made of a cable, which tightens the entire structure during operation. By loosening the cable, you can completely disassemble everything and place it in a closet or other storage location.

The folding type of attic staircase differs in the type of device . All parts of the structure are folded into one another and retracted upward. The same principle is used when laying out - each section is opened in turn and the ladder is ready for use. This type of operation is achieved using a hinge mechanism that is installed on both sides in each span. The uppermost part is attached to the hatch; when opened, additional handrails appear, which make the ladder structure more reliable and contribute to an easy and quick climb up.

The convenience of this option is that when folded, the ladder has the same dimensions as the box in which it is placed, which means that it does not take up more space than necessary. If desired, going upstairs, you can also remove it, so as not to interfere with other inhabitants of the house, if the position of the hatch is in a passageway.

For safety, grooves are made on the steps that do not allow the foot to travel and the person holds on confidently, going up or down to the first floor of the house. In purchased designs, this is provided initially, and when planning your own production, you need not forget about this nuance. The type of fastening of steps in finished structures is called "dovetail".

The retractable staircase can consist of two or three parts, which is regulated by the height of the ceilings in the house. The principle of operation of such a device is simple - each section extends one after the other, as if along rails. The top section must be attached to the main beam in the attic to keep the structure strong. When planning the installation of such a means of lifting, you need to make a special box on the ceiling, into which the staircase will be mounted. It is important to have a solid and reliable structure, otherwise there is a risk of a ceiling collapse with someone who will climb to the attic.

A hatch cover is attached to the upper section, which should be smaller than the others in length ., and during the folding of the entire structure, the window to the attic is automatically closed. It is not necessary to fasten the hatch, you can also close it yourself, after the stairs are sent up.

Another retractable design has two sections. The little one is attached to the hatch, and when you open it, you can freely access it. By removing the special fasteners, you can release the second part and lower it to the floor level, firmly and securely resting against it. Most often, wood is used for this option, rather than metal. The hatch is raised and lowered on special folding-type metal guides, which are located on both sides.

If such a ladder is bought, then the hatch is already included, and it is additionally equipped with thermal insulation so as not to let warm air into the attic, and cold air does not enter the room. If this structure is being built with your own hands, then these nuances should also not be forgotten.

Spring ladders have special spring mechanisms, with the help of which each section of the structure is fixed, which does not allow them to fold spontaneously. Due to them, the reliability and safety of the device for lifting to the attic is achieved.

The telescopic ladder is made of metal and has the form of round guides that fold into each other like a telescope. The steps move tightly to each other, and the whole structure takes up a minimum of space. It is very convenient and simple to use it, any household can cope with this.

Loft ladder lift systems are more convenient than the product options that remain in the room . The sliding design allows you to quickly get and fold the product, which is important for those who are used to working quickly. The automatic hatch slamming system avoids the inconvenient procedure of lifting to a height to the level of the ceiling, in order to additionally fix it when the ladder has been retracted. If you want to have a stationary ladder, but so that it takes up a minimum of space, then the best option would be a spiral structure, which will allow you to climb to the attic, making circular movements during the ascent and descent.

Where to place?

In a house with an attic, sooner or later the question of acquiring a staircase arises, along which it will be possible to get to it without hindrance. The construction of such a structure for the street will not cause any special problems, although there will be little comfort from using such a device. In order to make access to the attic quick, you need to place a lifting mechanism right in the house.

The first thing to take care of is choosing the right location for this . If the house is large, then it will not be difficult to find an impassable corner in it, but in a small country house it will be necessary to get out of the position when one space serves as both a kitchen, a bedroom and a living room. In this case, the farthest corner from the entrance to the house is chosen. If there is a corridor, then you can also think of a hatch in it, where the stairs will hide.

Having a spacious kitchen, you can provide for an exit to the attic from it, especially if something useful for cooking is stored there. If you need to hide a stationary staircase, you can fence it off from the general space of the room by making a small corridor that will have a door, creating the illusion of a room.

The staircase can also be used as a decor item, but it is best to do this when the attic is a living space and is used quite often. The folding structure will only complicate the use, and the stationary one will allow people of any age and physical capabilities to comfortably climb and descend.

Materials (edit)

When planning the manufacture of stairs to the attic on your own, it is important to purchase all the necessary materials. The first thing it all starts with is the installation of the hatch. This is a wooden frame where the structure will be hidden. For manufacturing, you need to have a beam of 50 to 50 in cross-section and plywood by ten millimeters. When making a staircase from wood, you need to prepare boards with a thickness of 20-25 millimeters and a width of 120-150 millimeters.

To determine the length of the boards, you already need to know what kind of structure will be - sliding, folding, how many sections there will be in it. The material for the steps is calculated, the distance between them and the thickness of the material are thought out. As for the hatch, an important component of its good work is the components that are responsible for the shock absorption properties at the time of opening and closing. Hinges are required to secure the hatch to the box. They must be powerful enough to do their job many times over.

Mechanisms that help hold the hatch together with the ladder are also important components. These kind of shock absorbers can be purchased or made by hand if the right tool is available. Another important element is the hinges that help fold and unfold the ladder. These fittings are sold in any furniture store, so there should be no problem purchasing them. The metal base of all important elements allows you not to doubt the reliability and quality of the finished product and safely use it for many years.

To make a ladder with a hatch yourself, you need to have the following tools:

• hacksaw for metal;
• gun for working with polyurethane foam;
• screwdriver with bits or a set of screwdrivers;
• self-tapping screws of different lengths and widths;
• tape measure of sufficient length;
• card loops;
• bars with a thickness of 20 to 30 millimeters.

Dimensions (edit)

The calculation of standards for the manufacture of stairs to the attic has long been withdrawn, therefore you only need to apply it for your room. The width of the march should be maintained at the level of 650-1100 millimeters, and the height should be made no more than 350 centimeters. If you make the structure higher, then its reliability will be much lower.

When planning the number of steps, you should not make more than fifteen of them. If the situation requires it, then you can increase the number, but first the entire structure is strengthened. The optimal distance between steps is fifteen or twenty centimeters. The step itself must be at least two centimeters thick.

The most correct angle for setting the attic structure will be sixty or eighty degrees . A larger angle will significantly reduce the safety of using the ladder. A small corner will require very little space, which is a significant advantage.

When considering the design, it is important to take into account the weight that will be on the ladder during use. These are not only kilograms of the owner of the house and his relatives, but also any items that need to be placed in the attic or taken down. It is worth taking care that the steps do not slip, otherwise you can fly off them and get injured.

The opening in the curtain is made according to the dimensions of the finished staircase and the hatch, which is attached to it. It is important to calculate every millimeter as accurately as possible and insulate the entrance to the attic so that cold air does not enter the house from it.

Step by step manufacturing

If you decide to make a staircase to the attic with your own hands, then the first thing you should take care of is the drawings and the creation of the project. A homemade design is not difficult if you approach the process of its implementation correctly.

The first step is to select all the necessary tools and purchase materials that will definitely be needed in the work. After that, a simple ladder will be installed, with which it will be possible to work with the ceiling and make a niche for the hatch in it.

Once the location for climbing the attic has been determined, a rectangular window must be cut out in the ceiling . and start building the manhole cover. To do this, you need to use a bar of 5 by 5 centimeters, which is cut based on the dimensions of the finished hole in the ceiling. When the structure is fastened, plywood ten millimeters thick is stuffed on top. When everything is ready, you need to try on the resulting lid, and if you fit, you need to secure it with hinges.

Once the installation of the hatch is completed, you can start making the stairs. It's easy to do it yourself, especially if the folding design option was chosen. To do this, you need to use an extension ladder, to which the beams are screwed on both sides. At the bottom, you need to fix them securely, and at the top, the fixation goes to the hinges. Further, the entire staircase is sawn into two parts - the upper one is large, the lower one is half as much.

In order for such a staircase not to lead, you need to make additional stiffening strips, which are stuffed diagonally.

The two parts of the folding structure must be connected with hinges. The upper part of the entire ladder is anchored to the hatch, and the lower foldable part is hooked to prevent its self-opening. The finished lifting mechanism is pressed against the wall and fixed.

You can make a three-piece attic staircase that folds down and hides in a hatch. To do this, the attached ladder is divided into three parts, the first of which has the dimensions of a hatch, the second is smaller than the first, and the third has a length that is enough to put it on the floor. All parts must be fixed with hinges, the operation of which must be carefully checked. The ladder must be well sanded and varnished.

Useful Tips

In order to make an attic staircase, it is not necessary to have unique skills and be a real master, you just need to approach the work correctly and do everything correctly and efficiently. The creation of a lifting mechanism does not take much time and effort, if you develop a clear plan of action and enlist the support of family members.

You can install the ladder only when all the elements are ready . It is necessary to strengthen the hatch well so that it does not collapse to the floor under the weight of the structure after some time. As soon as the main work is completed, the time will come for equally important work. It is imperative to insulate the manhole cover if the house is used all year round.